ARUP Blood Services Requirements for
Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project
Community Blood Drive
As a local supplier of blood to The University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics, Primary Children’s Medical Center, Shriners
Hospital for Children and the Huntsman Cancer Institute, ARUP Blood Services willingly accepts proposals from Life Scouts
wanting to hold community blood drives to meet the Eagle Scout requirement for Leadership Service Projects. A successfully
organized blood drive can directly benefit the local community by providing life-saving blood components to patients in need.
ARUP Blood Services will provide the Life Scout (hereafter called “coordinator”) with promotional materials; however, the
coordinator must perform a myriad of organizational and leadership functions to ensure the success of the event. Proposals for a
community blood drive as an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project must be based on the following requirements:
BLOOD DRIVE DATE: ARUP Blood Services generally schedules blood drives months in advance; however, on some
occasions, a date may be available upon shorter notice. The coordinator should work with an ARUP Blood Services
representative to schedule the blood drive at least eight weeks in advance. A successful blood drive will also require four weeks
of preparation and promotion. Note: Most blood drives are scheduled to last anywhere from four to six hours. And, if a
situation gives good reason, a blood drive can be scheduled for more than one day.
LOCATION: The blood drive must be held indoors at an approved facility that meets FDA requirements for size, donor
confidentiality, temperature, safety, parking and availability of utilities and equipment (tables and chairs). The coordinator is
responsible for finding a suitable location, subject to inspection and approval by an ARUP Blood Services representative.
DONORS: The coordinator will be held responsible for signing up a pre-set number of qualified blood donors prior to the
blood drive. The coordinator will also be held responsible for a pre-set number of viable units of blood collected at the blood
drive. Generally, the coordinator will need a minimum of 75 pre-qualified donors signed up to obtain 50 viable units of blood at
the drive. (Note: Experience indicates that up to one third of the people who sign up to donate will either not show up or will be
deferred from donating.) A representative from ARUP Blood Services will work with the coordinator and with his leader(s) to
set a reasonable goal for signups and units to be collected at the blood drive. The coordinator will be held responsible for
reaching those goals. If the set goals are not met, ARUP Blood Services may choose to NOT sign the paperwork stating the
project has been successfully completed.
COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP: To ensure the success of the blood drive, the coordinator must use the "committee approach,"
which will be directed by an ARUP Blood Services representative. This approach includes organizing, training and overseeing
the following:
•
•
•
Recruitment Committee: This committee is comprised of individuals who advertise the blood drive, recruit donors and
remind the donors of their scheduled appointment. Members of this committee are trained on blood donor
qualifications, "sales" strategies and general blood donation procedures. The size of this committee should be at least
one member for every 15 people signed up to donate.
Refreshment Committee (optional): Although ARUP Blood Services will provide a few refreshments and beverages
for the blood donors, additional refreshments are always appreciated by both ARUP Blood Services and by the blood
donors. The Refreshment Committee is made up of two to three individuals who make or recruit contributors of
refreshments—such as cookies and punch—for the blood drive. Generally, for every 10 donors, one gallon of beverage
and two dozen cookies are needed. Refreshments can be made by individuals, purchased (following a fund-raiser) or
solicited from local businesses. Other refreshments such as pizza, donuts and sodas are suggested for variety. This
committee can also be responsible for acquiring "thank-you gifts" for donors (i.e., 2-for-1 coupons, T-shirts, small
raffle items, etc.).
Blood Drive Workers: This team of two to five volunteers works at the blood drive performing tasks such as setting up
tables and chairs, helping unload equipment, greeting donors at the registration table, controlling donor flow, calling
“no-show” donors, assisting with refreshment distribution, babysitting donors’ children, recording the day's activities
via photographs or videotape, entertaining donors with videos or wholesome music and assisting with the cleanup after
the drive.
RESULTS: A scout who chooses to organize a blood drive for his Eagle Scout Leadership Project will have the opportunity to
learn skills that will prove invaluable throughout his life. These skills include organization, delegation, persuasion, event
coordinating and goal reaching. Not only will this project benefit the scout, it will forever change the lives of others in his
community.